Store-service apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. CHAPMAN. STORE SERVIGE. APPARATUS.

NO. 326,845. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

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(No Modell.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. CHAPMAN.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 828,845, Patented sept. 22', 1885.

N FEYERS, PhawLmwgmpher. washmgmn. D. C.

UNTTsn STATES PATTNT Tricia.

ELVOOD CHAPMAN, OF EMPORIA, KANSAS.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,845Ldated September 22, 1885.

Application filed August 5, 1885. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELwooD CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Emporia, in the Acounty of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store Service Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cash-carri ers for storeservice systems in which the cash is carried from the salesman to the cashier, and, when necessary, change is brought back to the salesman.

I am aware that it is not new to employ two tracks inclined in opposite directions; but this, besides occupying double space, necessitates the shifting of the car from one track to the other at each end of the route. A wire ropeway has also been used, in which a car was made to travel either way by gravity by inclining the rope in the proper direction by means of cords, pulleys, dre.; but such arrangements are objectionable, inasmuch as the devices for changing theinclination of the ropeway add to the cost of the device, and their manipulation consumes the time of the salesmen and the cashier. Various methods have been devised, all of which have been found deficient from one cause or another.

The object of my invention is to improve f upon the devices of this class as heretofore constructed; to lessen the parts constituting the same, thus simplifying and cheapening the construction, and rendering the operation of the device easier and quicker than by former constructions.

To these ends, and to such others as theinvention may pertain, it consists, chieiy, iu the employment of an improved style of elevator for raising and lowering the carrier, a driver for shooting it off and imparting to it its momentum by which it is carried from one station to another, and a level track upon which said carrier travels, thereby dispensing with the mechanism employed heretofore for changing the inclination of the way when a single way has been employed; also, in the peculiar construction of the carrier, and in the peculiar combinations and the novel construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, and then specifically pointed out by the appended claims.

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing the interior of a store provided with myimproved carrier in position for use. Fig. 2 is a view of a section of the track comprising the elevator. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the line v x of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal crosssection on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the carrier. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal vertical section thereof, and Fig. 7 is a top plan of the same.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A indicates the counter of a store; B, the shelves upon which goods are kept; C, the cashiers oflice,and D steps leading to the same. Suspended from the ceiling in any convenient manner, either rigidly or so they may swing to and fro, but preferably by cords or chains a, are the frames b, there being as many of these frames as convenience may require, and as each frame and its accessories is exactly alike I will confine my description, so far as this part of my invention is concerned, to a single one. To the cross-bar c of this frame is secured the hook b', from which is suspended the pulley -block c, carrying the pulley E. Depending from this frame, or, if preferred, a continuation thereof, is the rectangular frame b2, composed of the bed-pieces b, which limit the movement of the elevator in its descent, and the uprights If', which serve as guides for Asaid elevator.

F is the elevator, consisting of the upper and lower track-sections, FF2, connected together by the vertical bars f, which project beyond the sides of the traclesections, and in the movement of the elevator slide loosely up and down against the uprights b1, so as to steady and guide the elevator and prevent its working longitudinally.

G is a bail or loop secured to the top of the elevator midway of its length, and G is a cord attached at one end to said bail, and after passing over the pulley E its other end hangs within convenient reach of the salesman, as

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shown, so that by pulling on said cord the elevator may be raised when desired. This cord is provided with ahandle,g,of any well-known construction, and at its end it is knotted, or provided with a ball or stop, g. Projecting from the bed-piece b3 of the frame is a catch, g2, for holding the cord when it is desired to hold the elevator in its highest position. While any form of catch that will serve the purpose may be used, I prefer that shown, which' consists simply of a piece of wood bifurcated to form spring-jaws, between which the cord is slipped and held.

H is the track, made in sections, preferably of lengths sufficient to reach from one frame to another; but in case of unusual distances between the frames the meeting ends of two sections may be supported by hangers securedV I to the ceiling. This track is preferably trough shape in cross-section, the vertical sides h of the track serving to keep the carrier or carriagein place. This track is level, and eX- tends radially from the cashiers desk to 4all parts of the store, as is usual in devices of this kind. The ends of the sections,when made of a length to reach from one station to another, are supported removably by the frames, as shown.

Each elevator is provided with two sections of track, one above the other, as above described, and so arranged in relation to each other that a continuous rail is formed ,whether the elevator is raised or lowered.

Beneath the forward end of the lower tracksection of the elevator is journaled a pulley, I, over which passes the cord I', one end of which is attached to what I term the driven The other end of this cord hangs within convenient reach of the salesman, as shown,y and -is preferably provided with a handle.

J is a cord attached to the free end of the cord I', the other end of the cord J being secured to the frame overhead, at the rear end thereof. y

K are guides or guide-rails for the driver l2. They are secured in any suitable manner to the lower' track-section, on which said driver travels. The sides ofthe driver are apertured to receive said guide-rods, or maybe provided with eyes'to engage the same, if preferred.

L is the carrier or carriage. It is formed preferably, though not necessarily, of a single piece of wood, as shown in Fig. 6, recessed on its under side at each end, and in these recesses are journaled the wheels Z. The portion between these two recesses is hollowed out to form a receptacle, l', in which the money is to be placed. This receptacle is provided with a removable cover, Z2.

M are metal bands embracing the ends of the carrier, and serving to strengthen the same and prevent the wood from splitting. These bands bulge out near their center beyond the sides of the carrier. The object of this will soon be explained. The carrier is provided at each end with a rubber bumpermz,

to lessen the noise and shock when the carrier and the driver come together. The driver is provided with a similar bumper, m.

The operation is simple, and is as follows: Supposing all the elevators to be down,which is their normal position, and a customer makes a purchase. The salesman places the money paid for the goods sold into the cashreceptacle, puts on the cover, and places the carrier on` the lower track of the elevator, the driver being at this time in the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Now, by pulling on the cord G the salesman raises the elevator till the track-section F2 of the elevator is coincident with the track H,when, by giving the cord I a sudden pull in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the driver advances into the position shown in dotted lines in said figure and shoots the carrier out of the elevator to thev cashiers desk. As soon as ythe salesman raises his elevator he gives a signal to the other salesmen on his line, 1n order that they may not undertake to use the line while his elevator is up, for the driver on said elevator would stop the carrier; but as soon. as he lowers his elevator he gives another signal, from which the other salesmen know that the way is clear. When the elevator is lowered, the upper track-section thereof is coincideiit with the track-sections upon either side of the frame, and thus forms a continuous track. The cashiers desk is equipped with drivers only, there being no necessity for elevators there. When the cashier has made change, or taken out the cash when no change is required, he gives a signal for the salesman to raise his elevator, and then he shoots the carrier back to the salesman. The driver is at this time advanced,l as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thus serves as a cushion for the carrier on its return.

The cord .I prevents the cord I from going out of reach of the salesman, and serves as a means for pulling the driver backA to its normal position.

The bands M, impinging against the sides of the track at their bulge only, instead of for their whole length, tend in a great measure to lessen the friction between the said parts.

Having thus described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with a sectional track, of an elevator provided with interchangeable tracksections, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the elevator-frame, the elevator, and the cord by which the latter is operated, of a catch secured to said frame and adapted to retain said .cord when desired, as set forth.

3. In a device for the purposes described, an elevator provided with upper and lower track-sections, and a driver sliding on guides on said lower section, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the elevator-frame, the elevator, and a driver carried thereby, of

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a pulley, as I, journaled in said elevator, and a cord, as I', passing over said pulley and attached to said driver, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with the elevator-frame, the elevator, and a driver carried thereby, of a pulley, as I, journaled in said elevator, a cord, as I', passing over said pulley and attached to said driver, and the cord J, attached to the free end of the cord, and its other end attached to the elevator-frame, as set forth.

6. In a device for the purposes described, a carrier formed of a single piece and provided with wheels and cash-receptacle, as set forth.

7 In a device for the purposes described, a carrier formed of a single piece of Wood, re-

Vitnesses:

JOHN T. HorKrNs, JAMES BAIRD. 

